'Doctor Stranger' gets nearly 400 million views in China

SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean TV series "Doctor Stranger" has gained popularity throughout China with the number of hits coming close to 400 million on the country's major online video services, a local entertainment agency said Monday.

The drama series recorded 330 million views on Youku and 50 million views on Todou, both of China's leading video streaming and downloading services as of Sunday night, according to WM Company, which manages one of the drama's two male leads.

"The show is going to surpass 400 million views soon," the agency said. "It is currently the most popular South Korean drama on Chinese video downloading sites."

Starring actors Park Hae-jin and Lee Jong-suk, the 20-episode drama began airing on South Korea's SBS TV channel on May 5 and is set to close on Monday.

Stars of the South Korean TV series "Doctor Stranger" pose for photographers during a news conference to promote the series in Seoul on April 29, 2014. (Yonhap)

The romantic medical drama is about a genius North Korean doctor who works in South Korea's top hospital as a stranger after defecting from the communist country.

The drama's success is mainly attributed to the star power of the two male leads and rising hallyu stars, Park and Lee. Hallyu refers to the Asianwide boom of South Korean dramas, films and pop music.

Park, who is best known in South Korea for TV series such as "East of Eden" and "My Daughter Seo-young," gained fame in China with the huge success of the SBS drama "My Love from the Star." He has also acted in four Chinese dramas, including "Qian Duo Duo's Marriage Story," and "Another Kind of Splendid Life."

Lee also has many Chinese fans for his work in the South Korean TV series "School 2013" and "I Hear Your Voice."